Jujutsu Kaisen Studio’s Forgotten Masterpiece Officially Returns to Netflix in 3 Days

Netflix is bringing Ranma 1/2 back in just three days, with the anime’s third season scheduled to arrive on October 3, 2026. The new season continues MAPPA’s remake of Rumiko Takahashi’s martial-arts romantic comedy, which has already returned for two seasons.

While the official Ranma 1/2 website lists the Japanese television premiere for Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 24:55 JST (equivalent to 12:55 AM on October 4) on Nippon TV, global streaming will drop exclusively on Netflix immediately after the broadcast. Because of the late-night slot and the time zone difference, viewers outside Japan, particularly in the US, can stream the anime on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Ranma 1/2 Makes an October 3rd Netflix Return With Season 3

Ranma 1/2 | Credits: MAPPA

The wait for more Ranma 1/2 is nearly over. Season 3 is officially set to premiere on October 3, 2026, with Nippon TV beginning its Japanese broadcast at 24:55 JST (effectively October 4, 2026, 12:55 am JST). The official series site says episodes will be available exclusively on Netflix immediately after their television broadcast. Because the Japanese schedule uses a late-night 24:55 notation, viewers in other countries should check their local Netflix listings for the exact availability time.

While MAPPA has dominated the modern anime narrative through hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, their work on Ranma 1/2 revives an overlooked vintage series that many younger fans had left in the past. Yet, the same production flair that defines Jujutsu High’s greatest sorcery clashes is on full display in Takahashi’s slapstick dojo brawls.

The new season reunites the powerful creative team at MAPPA, with Konosuke Uda returning as director, Kimiko Ueno handling series composition, and Hiromi Taniguchi serving as character designer. The returning cast includes Kappei Yamaguchi as Ranma Saotome, Megumi Hayashibara as Ranma’s female form, and Noriko Hidaka as Akane Tendo.

Season 3 continues the same remake rather than restarting its story. The official cast page also confirms several new additions, including Masako Nozawa as Grand Master, Jun Fukuyama as Sentaro Daimonji, and Minami Tanaka as Tsubasa Kurenai. Mayumi Tanaka and Saori Hayami are also listed for roles that have not yet been publicly identified on the official cast page.

What Is the Story Behind the Rom-Com Masterpiece Ranma 1/2?

For fans whose idea of MAPPA begins and ends with dark fantasy, Ranma 1/2 is a masterclass in the genre that modern shonen comedy forgot. Ranma Saotome is a teenage martial artist who falls into a cursed spring while training in China. After the accident, cold water transforms him into a girl, while hot water restores his male form. His father, Genma, suffers a similar curse and transforms into a giant panda. Things become even messier when Ranma discovers that his father has arranged his engagement to Akane Tendo.

Akane is the daughter of Soun Tendo, Genma’s old friend, and the arrangement is intended to unite the two families’ martial-arts dojos. Ranma and Akane are hardly thrilled about becoming engaged, and their constant bickering becomes one of the series’ biggest sources of comedy. Their relationship is surrounded by rivals, admirers, friends, and troublemakers, meaning even an ordinary day at the Tendo Dojo can quickly become a martial-arts disaster.

That combination gives Ranma 1/2 its distinctive charm. The series can move from a romantic misunderstanding to an absurd martial-arts challenge, then throw in another cursed transformation without losing sight of its central cast. Takahashi’s original manga began publication in 1987 and concluded in 1996, establishing the mix of romance, comedy, fantasy, and martial arts that made Ranma 1/2 one of her best-known works.

The new anime keeps that identity while giving the manga’s world a modern presentation from MAPPA. Netflix describes the series as a slapstick, action-packed romantic comedy centered on Ranma, Akane, and their colorful cast of characters. Season 3, which will be one of the best shonen anime to watch this Fall, is now only days away, giving longtime fans and newcomers another chance to step back into the wonderfully chaotic world of Ranma 1/2.

Are you excited for Ranma 1/2 Season 3? We’d love to know your thoughts and opinions on the series in the comments below.